Mike Yardley travels a lot. He's the resident traveller on Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, always trying something or some place new.

As a result, he's tried out many of the apps available for travellers, and has a few he would call his favourites.

Read his full article here.

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A new twist on a classic tale.

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is an iconic tale of star-crossed lovers, and in just a few weeks, it will be brought to life once more by Auckland Theatre Company.

Although if you’re expecting a classic performance, you’re in for a shock – instead you’ll witness a fast-passed thriller set in 1960’s Milan, complete with Kiwi accents.

The titular characters are played by Theo David and Phoebe McKellar and the two joined Jack Tame to delve into the development of the show and what it’s like to bring this new variation to life.

Performances are running from the 15th of July through to the 9th of August at ASB Waterfront Theatre – tickets are available here.

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Her first album released as an independent artist, Period is Kesha’s sixth studio album.

With her taste for experimental pop on full display, the album is a return to Kesha’s wilder, hedonistic, “hot mess” era, filled with brash and unfiltered music.

The popstar says her goal was for it to create a safe space for people to feel fully embodied and liberated, unfiltered, and fearless.

Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the album.

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Kevin Milne is encouraging people to spend a little more time outside this weekend.

The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey ends this weekend, which aks people to record the number of birds they see in their garden over the span of an hour.

Last weekend saw Kevin take part in the Whale Count, but he thinks most people will have better luck with the birds.

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The White Crow by Michael Robotham

As the daughter of a London crime boss, Police Constable Philomena McCarthy walks a thin blue line keeping the two sides of her complicated life apart.

On patrol one night she discovers a child in pyjamas, wandering alone. Taking Daisy home, Phil uncovers the aftermath of a deadly home invasion, as three miles away a prominent jeweller is found strapped to an explosive in his ransacked store.

The crimes are linked, and all the evidence points to Phil’s father as the mastermind.

Phil’s two worlds are colliding, trapping her in the middle of a vicious gang war that will threaten her career and everyone she loves.

Who can she trust – the badge or her own blood?

This Is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen

Widow Mimi lives on idyllic Mackinac Island where cars are not allowed and a Gibson with three onions at the witching hour is compulsory. Her granddaughter, Addie, is getting over the heartbreak of her fiancé, Brian, dumping her and cutting her out of the deal for the brilliantly successful video game, Murderscape, they invented together (with Addie doing most of the heavy lifting).

When Mimi gets an invitation from local socialite Jane Ireland--a seventysomething narcissist who is having an affair with her son-in-law--to a charity auction, it is the perfect excuse to get Addie to join her for the weekend. What Mimi isn’t telling Addie is that a blackmail threat from Jane looms over the party’s invitation.

In case the scene wasn’t already set for a turbulent weekend, a big storm rolls in, trapping everyone in the mansion. And then, Jane’s body is found. Soon Mimi and Addie are caught in a dangerous game, relying on their skills (Mimi loves a crossword puzzle, and Addie is a brilliant game designer, after all) to narrow down the suspects. When another body turns up, the sleuthing pair realize someone else is playing a deadly game, and they might not survive the night. . . .

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During the cold and wet winter months, people often spend a lot less time in the great outdoors.

This can be a bit of a problem, as recent research reveals that spending time outside can have quite a few psychological benefits.

Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to delve into the findings.

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Investing isn’t always easy, and while you may think you can afford to buy a new house or investment property, can you really?

Ed McKnight recommends that before you take on those payments, try living with the decreased income before taking on that debt.

He joined Jack Tame to delve deeper into the ‘Can I Invest’ Test.

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So far, this winter of ours has been pretty wet. Yes, complaining might not help at all, but it pays to do something about the soaked soil.

Inundation is a health hazard for plants: constant wetness causes a range of diseases, many of which will be fatal.

Drowning roots stuff the oxygen balance, causing severe stress, discoloration of leaves, blisters on stems and leaves, leaf-fall, and die-back of branches.

Often the plant, shrub of small tree will become infected by one of the root-rot species.

The name Phytophthora comes to mind as it is quite violent in the way it attacks whole rows of plants.

Once a tree is infected there is very little you can do to “save its life”. If you are quick to diagnose this root rot fungus, you can try some Plant Health Buxus Blight Buster – follow label instructions and spray the affected trees/shrubs regularly.

I reckon that a prevention of stagnant water is the best way to save you a heap of trouble: dig some narrow ditches that will take the water away to lower levels. It pays to have a garden with a decent amount of “fall”, allowing the water to move off the premises.

Then there are plants we keep in large outdoor pots. And like our indoor plants, the most common cause of death is overwatering of those plants.

Our winter deluges outside can be lethal.

Ensure that your large outdoor pots have plenty of drainage holes in the bottom

Check that those holes are not clogged – check them every now and then

Remove the trays or saucers (which are handy to keep moisture around the roots in summer but not in wet old winter).

Our climate disruption is becoming worse every year, and I don’t see it turning around any day soon.

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